Free hot dogs to celebrate natural gas coming to Bucksport

BUCKSPORT, Maine — After 13 years of negotiations and six months of construction, natural gas is finally running through Bucksport’s new pipelines this week.

Bangor Gas Co. will host a ribbon cutting event at the new pressure reduction station across the street from Verso Paper Co. at 3 p.m. Thursday.

Free hot dogs, cooked with natural gas, will be given out to attendees at the event.

Construction of the pressure reduction station and natural gas pipelines began in June and is now complete, said Andrew Barrowman, sales and marketing manager for Bangor Gas Co. Bucksport’s schools will be the first in line to switch to natural gas, which Barrowman expects to happen by the end of this week.

Story continues below advertisement.

He also said the company is working to hook up about 65 residents who signed up for natural gas so they have fuel this winter. The gas company is no longer accepting applications for this year, but will accept applications for conversion in the spring.